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He added: “Children doing their homework sometimes need to download work onto a memory stick and go elsewhere for internet.

“Theoretically, there is hope on the horizon.”

The Connected Counties Programme admits it is taking longer than expected to extend its network and Councillor Graham McAndrew, who has lobbied for faster internet, believes progress is vital.

He told the Mercury: “Everyday life is impacted by the lack of this essential facility which should be classed as a utility.

“In this modern age so many are dependant especially the disabled and school children who not only research online but use the school system via the broadband infrastructure to do homework.”

Internet speeds throughout the area

He added: “Developers had not previously considered broadband a utility and so it was not being automatically installed in new homes.

“Our District Plan policies now require broadband to be installed in any development bigger than 30 homes.”

Improvements have not been as proactive as initially hoped for in rural areas, he said, but he credited “proactive residents” for the company’s commitment to install fibre in Little Hadham by the end of September.

A spokesperson for the Connected Counties programme said: “We are building out to some of the hardest to reach parts of the county, which can be extremely challenging for all kinds of reasons – from having to negotiate challenging terrain to the longer distances involved in connecting up rural premises.

“Unfortunately this has meant extending the network has taken longer than we expected, particularly around the area of Much Hadham.

“We know there’s more to do but the Connected Counties programme has already made high-speed fibre broadband available to more than 91 per cent of East Hertfordshire homes and businesses, compared to 63 per cent when the programme started.

“We’re still behind where we’d hoped to be at this stage, but by working with all partners we are starting to close the gap.”